Nearly 2,000 DUI arrests over Labor Day weekend in Los Angeles County

Authorities across Los Angeles County arrested 1,982 people suspected of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, a slight decrease over the three-day holiday weekend last year.

In 2013, 2,313 drivers were arrested from the reporting period of 12:01 a.m. Friday to midnight Monday, according to the Avoid the 100 Los Angeles County DUI campaign.

Of the arrests this year, 74 occurred after an injury crash had occurred, according to Wendy Brewer, a community service officer for county program.

Locally, Long Beach police arrested one driver for suspected DUI during a checkpoint from 7 p.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday on Ocean Boulevard and Pacific Avenue, police said Tuesday.

During the eight-hour operation, which was aided by Long Beach Police Explorers and Long Beach Search & Rescue, 1,633 vehicles passed through the checkpoint with 544 drivers being screened.

One driver was also arrested for a misdemeanor warrant; three were cited for unlicensed driving; two drivers were cited for suspended license; and four drivers were cited for unsafe driving.

In Bellflower, two motorists suspected of driving under the influence of marijuana were arrested during a sobriety checkpoint ahead of the Labor Day weekend, while 11 others were taken into custody for alleged license violations.

Sheriff’s deputies began the operation at 6 p.m. Thursday and continued through 1 a.m. on Friday on Artesia Boulevard, just east of Lakewood Boulevard, said Sgt. Britta Steinbrenner of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

Of the 1,637 vehicles that passed through the checkpoint, 1,541 of them were stopped and checked, Steinbrenner said.

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In addition to the two alleged marijuana DUI arrests, one more person was booked for illegal narcotics possession, Steinbrenner said.

In addition, four people with suspended or revoked licenses were arrested, while seven unlicensed drivers were taken into custody, according to the sergeant.